FLAMED-OUT FRAGER’S GETS A 30-UNIT, MIXED-USE MAKEOVER

PGN rendering of Pennsylvania Avenue development project between partners, Perseus Realty and Javelin19.

“It’s been a long time coming…” — Sam Cooke

Big news and big change are making its way to the historic Capitol Hill district.

Back in October 2015, Perseus Realty partnered with Javelin19 Investments to shell out 5.7 million dollars to acquire a hefty slice of property located on Pennsylvania Ave SE in the historic Capitol Hill District. This block has been home to local and family-owned shops like, Frager’s Hardware, which has been in operation since 1920.

Almost four years ago, Frager’s was swallowed up by an aggressive fire.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (DCFEMS) Fire Investigation Unit performed an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the fire. On June 6th, 2013, The Frager’s fire was classified as an accident and most likely caused by a cigarette that was carelessly discarded by someone walking by the 11th street side of the building.

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Frager’s will surely return to its home on Pennsylvania Ave SE, but their homecoming will include two additional retail spaces, underground parking, and north of 30 residential units. Originally, the plans called for 40 to 50 condominium units, but Adam Peters, Perseus Realty, explained

“[They] are focusing on units that will appeal to families and people who are downsizing from larger homes,”

which may be the tradeoff for producing more residential units. The new development site will span the block of 1101-1117 Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Frager’s planned redevelopment a couple doors down. Although there has been no official word saying who will occupy the retail spaces, Frager’s signed a 25-year lease at the new development– talk about at commitment, sheesh! Peters, alongside the rest of the development team, envision that the spaces will be filled by a neighborhood restaurant or coffee shop. I, personally, could see a Pete’s Coffee Shop popping up there, but hey, we will just have to wait and see! *Hint Hint, wink wink!*

Current development site.

Jeff Goins of PGN Architects explained to UrbanTurf last week that, “They are still in the early phases,” and cautioned that these plans and overall scope of the development are subject to change. Understandable, though, due to the property being located in the Capitol Hill Historic District it is likely that the facade will be preserved.

Sometime soon, the project’s plans will be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Review Board.